Information for Parents on P7 11-plus Tests

Tags

AQE tests, CEA tests, Greystone Primary School, Ivan Skinner principal, Numeracy and Literacy Strategy, school transfer arrangements

Numeracy and Literacy?

DUH!

Edna: Seymour, you have to think of the children’s future.
Seymour: Oh, Edna. We all know that these children HAVE no future.
[Everyone stops and stares at Seymour.]
Seymour: Prove me wrong children. Prove me wrong.

Principal Skinner: That's why I love elementary school, Edna. The children believe anything you tell them.

 

While announcements are heralded about a meeting of primary school principals on their chaos over the unregulated11-plus transfer system parents may want to share some of one principal’s  helpful information.

The school, Greystone Primary School, has been providing updates to anxious parents. However the source of the anxiety may be closer to the school prinipal’s efforts with Local Area Planning  than meeting pupil’s needs.

The following extract from Update 6 reveals a disturbing attitude to numeracy and literacy attainments and the school’s approach to solutions on behalf of some pupils. 

“You might want to consider whether you want your child to continue with these as work done in class during this time might be more useful if you do not intend to apply for a place in Antrim Grammar.”

Ivan Skinner, Principal of Greystone Primary School,  Antrim

 

 

The following questions arise from Principal Skinner’s missive.

*     Are only pupils seeking a place at Antrim Grammar worthy of numeracy and literacy teaching?

*      Why is Antrim Grammar the only grammar school choice? Do Ballymena Academy, Cambridge House, Belfast Royal Academy, Belfast High School, RBAI no longer exist as a choice for parents and pupils?

*     Are parents restricted to only AQE tests?

*     Do the pupils know they are scoring low?

*     How were the scores communicated to parents?

*     What “work” does Principal Skinner mean?